Seattle can submit application for NHL franchise

The NHL said Thursday it will allow Seattle to apply for a professional team franchise. (Photo: KOMO News)

The NHL will allow Seattle to apply for a professional team franchise. And a potential ownership group will likely do so.

The announcement came from Manalapan, Fla,, where the NHL board of governors was meeting.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that Seattle is the only city being considered for expansion. The fee to get the franchise would be $650 million. The ownership group would also have to launch a season ticket drive.

The group includes Jerry Bruckheimer, a Hollywood producer, and David Bonderman, a private equity CEO. Seattle would become the 32nd NHL team.

"That doesn't mean we have granted an expansion team," Commissioner Bettman said following the Board of Governors meeting. "We have agreed as a league to take and consider an expansion application and to let them run in the next few months a season-ticket drive."